Sad, angry, embarrassed, discouraged. I hopped on my motorcycle yesterday and drove 2 hours to the arrowhead display I advertised in the "events section" to have Roy Motley look at this piece. I didn't even get to see him. As soon as I walked in the door there was another authenticator there willing to look at it. He killed it! I was so sickened I didn't even get his name. He was the first one to put a scope to it. He wen't into a 10 minute explanation on whats wrong with the piece but I didn't hear a word after he told me there is traces of copper on it. I am absolutely SICK about this for now I must question 50% of my collection. I owe an apology to those on this board. I am sorry for wasting your time and sorry for referring to some of you as "clowns". I may delete my account after reading all of your "I told you so's". I am so Discouraged now I may give up hunting all together. I thought by not buying points and finding my own I was immune to this kind of thing. I wouldn't feel as bad as I do now if I had paid $5000 for this thing on ebay.

I know most of you on here never questioned this piece but this was copied and pasted from another forum...Needless to say it was a LONG ride home.

Well what can you say, disappointing to say the least. Got to give you credit Ryan for posting this, a hard thing to do. What kind of person feels the need to leave these out there? Also understand you questioning anything else that came from that area. I don't know if I wouldn't have someone else look at it, a second opinion, a clearer understanding of what is not right with it if all you heard was copper! You didn't happen to put it in your pocket with loose change when you found it?
Sorry bud, would have been nice to be the real deal.

I do plan to get a second opinion although I'm not holding out hope. It was wrapped treated like a newborn baby when I found it so no exposure to loose change. The only thing I can think is someone planted this with the hopes of "finding" it himself and impressing his friends but lost place of where he buried it. That is my only explination. Rest assured if this is killed by another authenticator it will be etched with the word REPRO.

Sad situation Speed! Keep your head up Man, I hate to see you quit hunting but it would be hard after this.

Ahhhh Man!.....that just sucks. Sorry to hear this has happened to you but you get a lot of credit for posting it......your a stand up guy and my only advice is to not stop hunting.....I'd be looking for a new place to hunt but I know this just stinks for you. Sorry dude.

I'm so sorry to hear this, Speed. They say time heals all wounds, and I hope the passion for the hunt returns in due time. Plenty of real ones waiting for you out there, when you're ready.

I, like you, had a once in a lifetime find recently, found it myself, and I was worried it would get the thumbs down. Its just their opinion, they could be having a bad day and played God, who knows. That is why I only sent my to Bill Arnold. Bill is known as a top digger and I'll take his word over anyone chasing points off of paper. I had planned on sending it to Dwain Rogers AFTER I sent it to Bill. Dwain wasn't pleased with our coonversation, so I did not send it to him. Bill makes a hell of a CoA.

Joel

That sucks man. I don't know why anyone would do that to somebody. I would definitely get a second opinion just to make sure.

Speed, the Collinsville show is in March and there will be some of the most knowledgeable Hardin collectors set up and some good authenticators, too..

I've only been actively hunting for a few months now because it took 30 friggin years to get permission to hunt. All we have is privately owned ranch and farm land. No public land. In those 30 years of reading and day dreaming, I've read several times about vengeful collectors/hunters "salting" an area with fakes to drive off others. Some even went as far as to write "genuine Indian made" on pieces. Quite possible someone screwed with you IF it is modern. Hard to tell from the pics but I'd be weary.


Joel